Has anyone used POR 15 gas tank sealer in their Z gas tank to seal the inside of the tank? Do you think you're better off living with a little rust or sealing the tank? Any other solutions?

I've done it, but I didn't have just "a little rust". I had major rust on the outside of the tank, and visible rust beginning to form on the inside. Additionally, I had my doubts as to some of the seams.

I did it, and have not had problems since. Granted, I took care not to plug any of the vent lines.

IMO, with your being in Richmond (VA presumably) you have some periods of cold weather where condensation can form inside your tank. A little bit of rust tends to grow into a LOT OF RUST when allowed to. Unless you plan on keeping the tank full ALL the time, with periodic additions of Heet or Ice-Out or some other water remover for gas, you may be postponing a problem instead of eliminating it.

FWIW

E

http://classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19034&highlight=por15+gas+tank

Pretty extensive documentation. Personally, I'm attached to my eyebrows, so I didn't want to mess with gas tank work on my own. With my luck the sealant would've blocked off the pickup tube if I DIY'ed it! So, I paid a radiator shop to clean it, coat it (RedKote was their product) and give me a limited lifetime warranty all for $300. I call that a deal

BTW, Enrique...As a native Richmonder, the weather there doesn't get that cold. Too much Gulf Stream effect mixed with the Appalachians keep it warmer than you think. Occasional Alberta Clippers will chill the Upper South, but rare to get more than a couple days of snow per year. Like Raleigh, even a whiff of the white stuff makes the whole city grind to a halt!

Edited August 29, 200816 yr by xray

I have never done a Z tank but I recently did the tank in my 914. I used the three step POR15 Kit. Careful as the Marine Clean will burn skin. But it was quick and fairly easy and cost quite a bit less than the radiator shop option.

Guy, You may want to track down that red Coat product because there is a clue in the name. Know 'ut I mean Vern? Found out what the family of finish is and whether it's a single package product or a catalyzed product.

I first used a coating the local radiator guys sugested and had problems with that other stuff RED-KOTE http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19514

I then found a different tank and used POR-15 to fix the tank. I had some pin holes and plenty of rust but it did the job. Its been almost 2 years and no problems with it at all. Just chose to do it on a hot sunny day and follow the directions word for word and you should have no problems. If you have a radiator shop close by have it hot tanked first to help out.

I am re-doing the gas tank on my 1967 Honda motorcycle - almost universally, people recommend POR-15, even over the Honda suggested product ("Kreem"). Apparently, other products can flake off in time, so many suggest POR-15. FWIW

Bruce....I get your clue, however the tank was clean inside.......must have been bad gas! I'm redoing another tank that is like new on the outside but has brown powdery surface rust all over the inside ( the car wasn't driven since 1979). I've seen the Red Kote at radiator shops and it looks like red "Twizzlers". Now I'm not knocking "Twizzlers" but it was stretchy and didn't really turn me on (however it must be a good product or motorcycle people wouldn't use it) I think the overwhelming advice is POR 15 and I trust what I've heard here to give it a try. Thanks again for all help and advice. Guy

Guy, You may want to track down that red Coat product because there is a clue in the name. Know 'ut I mean Vern? Found out what the family of finish is and whether it's a single package product or a catalyzed product.

Care to elaborate? My shop's 25+ years of experience and lifetime warranty speak significantly against what I infer to be a negative implication.

There was certainly no slight intended. Guy was on the trail of something in the gas that would have turned it red. We were surmising that perhaps his unknown tank had been treated with "something" that our wonderful gas might be reacting with.

Anything that will work trouble free with gas tanks is a welcomed addition to the trade....

Ditto Bruce......Guy

There was certainly no slight intended. Guy was on the trail of something in the gas that would have turned it red. We were surmising that perhaps his unknown tank had been treated with "something" that our wonderful gas might be reacting with.

Anything that will work trouble free with gas tanks is a welcomed addition to the trade....

Thanks for the clarification. I spoke with motorcycle shops, other classic car resto shops, farm/tractor guys who used it on their gas tanks, and googled to many non-Z forums before deciding against the DIY POR-15.

Truthfully RedKote can, however, soften up under conditions where there is a lot of MEK, 100% ethanol (some even say 85%) or high octane racing fuel exposed to the surface. None applied to my situation.